Boot jack



April 21, 1959 G- ARDAMALIA ET AL 2,883,097

0 Q 0 O Q Q O Q BOOT JACK a a a 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1955 /4 zmAAxxkx ARXXX$Q X 3$ LV A W) all! El! INVENTOR.

" yvvvvvv 7% BY a4 United States Patent 0 BOOT JACK Theodore G. Scardamalia and Frank Muto, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application October 17, 1955, Serial No. 540,810

2 Claims. (Cl. 223-114) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in combination boot jack and scrapers, and it is among the objects thereof to provide a device of simple compact and durable construction useful for scraping and removing boots or shoes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a construction of boot jack and scraper in which the latter constitutes a reinforcing for the frame of the boot jack member.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof in which like reference characters designate like parts, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a combination boot jack and scraper embodying the principles of this invention;

Figure 2, a vertical cross-sectional view, partially in elevation, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3, a side elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, illustrating the manner of use in removing boots; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a fragmentary portion of the structure shown in Figure 1.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 generally designates a frame made of rod or tubing of any metal capable of withstanding the strain to which it is put in use. The frame 1 is generally of rectangular shape with one end thereof in the form of a V, this portion being designated by the numeral 2, the end of the frame embracing the V-shape portion being inclined upward in the manner shown in Figure 2.

An expanded metal portion 3 is secured across the frame and spot welded thereto, as shown at intervals by the reference character 4. The expanded metal is also welded to the base or tip of the V-shaped portion, as indicated by the numeral 5, Figure 1 of the drawing, for the purpose of securely holding the V-shaped portion in its angular position, and to prevent distortion thereof when subjected to strain when a boot such as designated by the numeral 6 is inserted in the V and force is brought to bear against the V-shaped element of the frame.

The spot welding of the expanded metal across the main body portion of the frame 1 also prevents distortion of the frame throughout, for which reason the frame 1 can be made of relatively lightweight metal.

The expanded metal portion 3 has an uneven upper surface with rather sharp edges that make an efiective scraping surface and also functions as a slip-proof tread on which to stand when the user is removing a boot by forcing it into the V-shaped portion 2.

The double looped ends 7 and 8, Figure 1, offer considerable resistance to distortion that would displace the V-shaped extractor element out of line and the entire frame structure with the welded expanded metal portion constitutes a structural member that is durable and rugged.

Boot jacks of the above-described construction are useful for school children, as they may be conveniently located at the entrance of a home for scraping mud and removing boots when returning from play or school, and they are obviously useful to farmers and sportsmen during winter and wet weather when the cleaning and removal of boots is a problem.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

We claim:

1. In a boot jack, a peripheral metal frame having a main body portion of substantially rectangular shape constituting a base and having a double loop at one end forming a crotch for receiving the heel of a boot, said loops and crotch portion being inclined at an angle from the horizontal when the boot jack rests on said base with the converging end of the crotch portion lying in the same plane as the base or main body of the frame, an expanded metal extending across the entire main body portion of the frame on the top thereof and being secured thereto by welding to constitute both a scraper and reinforcing element.

2. In a boot jack, a peripheral metal frame having a main body portion of substantially rectangular shape constituting a base and having a double loop at one end forming a crotch therebetween for receiving the heel of a boot, said loops and crotch portion being inclined at an angle from the horizontal when the boot jack rests on said base with the end of the crotch portion lying in the same plane as the main body of the frame, an expanded metal extending across the entire main body portion of the frame and overlapping the end of the crotch portion on the top thereof and being secured thereto by welding to constitute both a scraper and reinforcing element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 30,913 Durham Dec. 18, 1860 90,076 Brown May 18, 1869 443,331 Price Dec. 23, 1890 642,056 Turnbull Jan. 23, 1900 2,525,174 Johnstone Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 309,924 Germany Dec. 23, 1918 710,766 Germany Sept. 20, 1941 64,562 Norway Mar. 9, 1942 

